Forensic Psychology and Criminal Investigation - Assignment Example

Forensic Psychology and Criminal Investigation PART 1 Introduction: Can offence-related sexual deviance be treated or only managed? Undoubtedly, deterrence and prevention of sexual aggression is of supreme importance, provided the irrefutable destructive scars they leave on the victims. In the light of this point, Robert E. Freeman quotes, “the key to preventing sexual abuse is to shift paradigms. In addition to viewing sexual abuse as a criminal justice issue, we must also view it as a serious public health problem and preventable social problem”[ CITATION Fre98 \l 2057 ]. Others accentuate this by pointing out that the probability of discovering a cure for sexually deviant behaviour and high blood pressure has the same chance[ CITATION Per98 \l 2057 ]. Sexual offenders can however be taught to manage their sexually deviant orientation by addressing their cognitive distortions. Difficulties in altering a person’s sexual preferences No universal casual or absolute factor can explain sexually deviant behaviour. Sexual offenders comprise of a diverse population; thus, making it even more difficult to attribute risk factors in each scenario. Additionally, sexual deviances tend to be long-lived and resistant to change; hence, not easy to alter. Moreover, normally, perpetrators have trouble in controlling their impulse and judgements. The large majority of sexual offenders exhibit psychiatric disorders, histories of sexual or physical abuse, and even learning disabilities or academic dysfunctions. Thus, ample time and effort is needed for curing these individuals both in terms of emotions and mental capacity. Medical Treatment versus Psychological Treatment Numerous researches have investigated the impact of pharmacological treatment to curb sexually offenders. For instance, a ten-year long research of ‘Depo-Provera’ radically decreased sexual appeal amongst patients and paved the way towards therapeutic engagement [ CITATION Emo92 \l 2057 ]. As opposed to this, another control trial focused on Medroxy-Progesterone Acetate (MPA) exposed that 15% MPA patients re-offended in comparison to 68% non-users [ CITATION Fed92 \l 2057 ]. Undeniably, anti-libidinal medicines benefit offenders; however, they are inadequate on their own to deal with all the issues of sexual offenders. This can be attributed to the fact that most sexual violence acts are committed for sexual gratification; hence, reducing libido is not enough. Additionally, medical treatment is only effective as long as medicines are consumed[ CITATION Bra \l 2057 ]. Nonetheless, the downfall in anxiety and sexual interest does escalate the success probability of psychological treatment[ CITATION Emo92 \l 2057 ]. Psychological treatment involves gaining insight into sexually deviant behaviour, curtailing such deviant patterns, and preventing relapse of sexual offenders. Gradually, the focus of psychological treatment has shifted from analyzing underlying factors that triggered the crime[ CITATION Sta84 \l 2057 ], towards a systematic cognitive approach, which focuses on an array of risk factors related to future violence [ CITATION Mal91 \l 2057 ]. The new cognitive behaviour approach has also incorporated relapse prevention methods of drug and alcohol studies and developed specifically tailed prevention schemes[ CITATION Law89 \l 2057 ]. Research literature delineates the need to employ different treatments to various patients, based on the individual risk factors of each offender. Thus, both treatments should be synthesised to accomplish the best outcomes. Conclusion Curing sex offenders is impossible; however, their deviant behaviours can be managed and curtailed by employing specialized offense treatments[ CITATION Cou05 \l 2057 ]. It is of integral to bear in mind that no magic bullets or absolutes exist while detecting risk factors. Inevitably, some sex offenders will serially commit sexual offenses, regardless of treatments aimed at minimizing their sexually deviant symptoms. PART 2 Various techniques to assess and monitor paraphilic offending 1. Plethysmography This technique involves measuring genital reactions to various stimuli. The fundamental rationale behind recording genital response is that it signifies sexual provocation, which in turn serves as an indicator of sexual desire[ CITATION Rem95 \l 2057 ]. Thereby, sexual inclination can be assessed by measuring constant genital response towards particular stimuli. However, many researchers contend that psychological arousal is not necessarily affiliated with physiological provocation [ CITATION Amo73 \l 2057 ]. This is backed up by as unintended erections and impotence, wounds, and reflexive penile provocation, where genital reactions are opposed to psychological inclination or provocation. Volumetric phallometry by Freund involves an airtight glass cylinder that encloses the penis when it is in the position [ CITATION Fre63 \l 2057 ]. At the top, a funnel leads to an analogue device, which then measures the movement of air due to the enlargement and reduction in penis size. This method triumphantly differentiated between heterosexuals, homosexuals, and paedophilias. On the other hand, circumferential technique measures the variations in girth. The penis is placed in strain gauge, rubber, or mercury band and the resultant variations in girth are measured through changes in electrical resistance[ CITATION Kla05 \l 2057 ]. 2. Physiological measures: Electroencephalographic measurement This methodology has produced reliable results by measuring the neurological impact of anticipation of participants who were told that they were to be shown sexually arousing visual content. An investigative study of heterosexuals, homosexuals, and paedophiles revealed that offenders did not exhibit differential response between child and adult sexual content. In contrast, the non-offenders showed a greater inclination towards adult content. Moreover, non-paedophiliac children criminals were more fascinated by adult stimuli as opposed to paedophilic criminals, who again had the same response towards adult and children stimuli[ CITATION How94 \l 2057 ]. Hypothetically, since the response is based at the neurophysiologic level; hence, it will be not influenced by conscious reasons as opposed to a penile response. Thus, faking becomes difficult. 3. Non-physiological techniques to differentiate sexual interest This method primarily constitutes of self-report and attention methodologies. Self-reports can be elicited through conducting clinical interviews, conducting questionnaires and standardized inventories or carrying out card sort. A research by Holland, Zolondek, Abel, Jordan, and Becker indicated that several clinicians are of the perspective that offenders admit possessing deviant sexual behaviour more easily by filling out questionnaires as compared to interviews [ CITATION Hol00 \l 2057 ]. 4. Attention methodologies This comprises of two techniques, namely, viewing time and information processing. The theory of aesthetic reaction stage of sexual provocation advocates that an appealing object will gather more attention from the fascinated individual, Hence, the longevity of views of numerous visual stimuli should be secretly recorded, as individuals will be more drawn towards appealing images in comparison to neutral or unappealing ones [ CITATION Sin84 \l 2057 ]. Likewise, another methodology emphasizes on differentiating between the impacts of escalated tension on information processing jobs. Most Successful Methods Non-physiological methodologies are proven by far the most effective. For instance, card sort is reliable technique that discriminates between offenders by using pictorial and elaborative stimuli, tailored to age and attitude preference. Moreover, it is financially cost-effective and easy to use; however, it is prone to faking. Likewise, MSI questionnaires are widely used owing to excellent psychometric properties, ability to detect pretence or denial amongst sexual deviants. Hence, the synthesis of self-report measures of card sort and MSI questionnaires would triumphantly identify sexual preferences and probability of faking amongst offenders [ CITATION Ban10 \l 2057 ]. Likewise, viewing time-AASI, an attention method has been proven resilient to faking, discrimination, and results in effective test-retest reliabilities by using various stimuli. Although, AASI costs more than questionnaires but Abel Institute is responsible for analyzing data, which makes it the most convenient method to be employed[ CITATION Kla05 \l 2057 ]. Early identification and assessment of escalating paraphilias reduces offending The assessment of stable dynamic risk factors and early detection of paraphilias significantly lowers the sexual offences. Paraphilias are characterized by intense sexual arousals that cause trouble and social impairment for individuals. The assessment process usually encompasses sex hormone profile, questionnaires, physiological testing of sexual inclination in order to critically evaluate and establish the apt treatment intervention. Research has proven that the application of risk management procedures, pharmacology, psychotherapies is effective in dealing in all types of sexual deviations, and even multiple sexual deviations. Medical drugs can lower testosterone levels tremendously, helping individuals in lowering their sexual interests; hence, paraphilia. Moreover, considerable scientific evidence suggests that hormones and neurotransmitters underlie biological constituents of sexual drive. In consideration of these facts, pharmacological treatment has focused on reducing sex drive by the use of anti-androgens and hormonal agents. References CITATION Fre98 \l 2057 : , (Freeman-Longo & Blanchard, 1998), CITATION Per98 \l 2057 : , (Perkins, Hammond, Coles, & Bishopp, 1998), CITATION Emo92 \l 2057 : , (Emory, Cole, & Meyer, 1992), CITATION Fed92 \l 2057 : , (Fedoroff, Wisner-Carlson, Dean, & Berlin, 1992), CITATION Bra \l 2057 : , (Bradford, 2000), CITATION Emo92 \l 2057 : , (Emory, Cole, & Meyer, 1992), CITATION Sta84 \l 2057 : , (Stava, 1984), CITATION Mal91 \l 2057 : , (Maletzky, 1991), CITATION Law89 \l 2057 : , (Laws, 1989), CITATION Cou05 \l 2057 : , (Council on Sex Offender Treatment, 2005), CITATION Rem95 \l 2057 : , (Rempel & Serafini, 1995), CITATION Amo73 \l 2057 : , (Amoroso & Brown, 1973), CITATION Fre63 \l 2057 : , (Freund, 1963), CITATION Kla05 \l 2057 : , (Klamus & Beech, 2005), CITATION How94 \l 2057 : , (Howard, Longmore, Mason, & Martin, 1994), CITATION Hol00 \l 2057 : , (Holland, Zolondek, Abel, Jordan, & Becker, 2000), CITATION Sin84 \l 2057 : , (Singer, 1984), CITATION Ban10 \l 2057 : , (Banse, Schmidt, & Clarbour, 2010), CITATION Kla05 \l 2057 : , (Klamus & Beech, 2005), Read More